Industrial school for Negroes is a dream that came true

Industrial School for Negroes
Is A Dream That Came True'
SPECIAL TO THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR-
A. H. Parker as teacher and one class of 18 pupils. Upon the record of these first pupils depended the fate of the venture. That they measured up to the standard is evidenced by the fact that since its incipiency the school had a rapid growth and now ranks as one of the four largest Negro high schools in the United States, with an enrolment 2501 pupils for the first week of the fall term 1930. The number of graduates for the school year 1929-30 was 381.
Of these early days, Principal Parker says: "I was convinced that our boys and girls should be taught in the schools how to do thoroughly and well , the everyday duties that they find right around them. I lived very close to this first class, for I wanted it to set the spirit, discipline and tone of classes to follow. We worked and played together. We made gardens. had quilting bees, hikes and parties together all as one big family."
In 1915 it was announced that the present site had been purchased by the city. The buildings consisted of a church, one two-story building and 14 small tenement houses. The students of the manual training department set to work removing partitions, tearing down chimneys, bridging the roofs and converting houses into classrooms. These ramshackle buildings have all been replaced with the present modern group, the completion of the main building in 1924 being epoch-making in the history of the institution.
In 1914 at a meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association, the mothers voted unanimously in favor of a uniform for girls, selecting dresses of navy blue made simply in any style. When dresses fade they are dyed in the dry cleaning department. The adoption of a uniform is said to have -meant the saving of thousands of dol-
lars to the parents A uniform_ white is optional with the graduates.
Later a uniform of khaki was also adopted for the boys.
kl The Industrial High School is outstanding for its night schools. In the fall of 1911 the first night school for Negro adults in Birmingham was launched, with A. H. Parker in charge. There were nearly 60 students in this first school, while the present enrollment is 700. The pupils, ranging in age from 16 to 70, receive elementary instruction in eight grades and are also taught the needed industries. On completing the prescribed course, certificates are awarded. These certificates are greatly sought after both as a matter of pride and because they aid in securing good positions. An entrance fee of $1 is charged. Provided a student attends 90 per cent of all meetings, the fee is returned at the end of the session At the closing session last spring the entrance fee was returned to 300 students. Some of these students come from a distance of eight to ten miles to attend the night school, frequently walking both' ways.
Birmingham, Ala.
A DREAM That Came True" is the title of an autobiography of Arthur Harold Parker, principal of the Negro Industrial High School here, which is being published in the monthly journal of the school, and later will appear in book form. This school and A. H. Parker, its first teacher and one of the foremost educators of his race, are so closely identified that the story of his life traces the history of the school. From the meagerest beginning, the Industrial High School has developed into an institution which was pronounced by" Dr. A. E. Winship the best school of its kind in the country and unparalleled for rapid growth.
The school buildings are an imposing group. Constructed of hollow tile. covered with ivory stucco, the five buildings are of a modern type of school architecture and cover an area of 160,000 square feet on Eighth Avenue and Ninth Street. Like most features connected with the school, its excellent equipment and upkeep is the result of work. The students repair the_ buildings, do the screening, make hall trees, flower stands, tables.
chairs, swings, radio cases, other needed furniture, and playground equipment.
Like Booker T. Washington,. A. H. Parker believes that industry and efficient workmanship constitute the foundation of success and good citizenship. The plans and methods of the school are designed to give the students the best possible preparation, for a definite life's work. While the aim of the school is industrial and economic, the emphasis is placed not j Only on the means of making a living but likewise upon the practical elements
of true living. As a ,means
i.. and the school each year 1-
adopts a slogan. This year's slogan is "Character Education Through the Study of Nature." As one high school pupil put it, "The purpose of our slogan is to teach each child how to care for every living plant and enjoy them." Other slogans which have been used are "Character Education Through Love of the Beautiful"; "Character Education Through Thrift"; and "Character Education Through Courtesy."
In addition to the regular academic work the boys have cleaning and pressing, . gardening, carpentry, shoe repairing, tailoring, auto mechanics. upholstery, and printing. The girls have sewing, laundering, gardening. cooking, printing millinery, dress making, nursing, and beauty culture School and home gardening is a re-quired industry for all students dur
ig the first two years. Two years in tailoring and two years in carpentry are required of all boys, and two years each in cooking and sewing are required of all girls The other industries may be elected with the consent of the principal. but each student must pursue two industries, required ! or elected.
No phase of the industrial nigh 1 School program has created more I favorable comment than the vocal music. In order to preserve the old folk songs of the Negro race, at least me spiritual is sung at chapel exerses each day. The; very essence of
rmony seems to flood not only the \ throats but the faces of the Negro boys and girls as they sing their spirituals
it was a little more than 30 years ago that a group of Negro citizens of Birmingnam appeared before the board of education and petitioned tor an industrial high school for the youth of their race They were favorably received and told to go and find
location, with the understanding however, that the project was purely an experiment. One room was secured
in the Cameron School building. and in September 189.. the door of the 1 industrial school was opened, with
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Industrial School for Negroes
Is A Dream That Came True'
SPECIAL TO THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR-
A. H. Parker as teacher and one class of 18 pupils. Upon the record of these first pupils depended the fate of the venture. That they measured up to the standard is evidenced by the fact that since its incipiency the school had a rapid growth and now ranks as one of the four largest Negro high schools in the United States, with an enrolment 2501 pupils for the first week of the fall term 1930. The number of graduates for the school year 1929-30 was 381.
Of these early days, Principal Parker says: "I was convinced that our boys and girls should be taught in the schools how to do thoroughly and well , the everyday duties that they find right around them. I lived very close to this first class, for I wanted it to set the spirit, discipline and tone of classes to follow. We worked and played together. We made gardens. had quilting bees, hikes and parties together all as one big family."
In 1915 it was announced that the present site had been purchased by the city. The buildings consisted of a church, one two-story building and 14 small tenement houses. The students of the manual training department set to work removing partitions, tearing down chimneys, bridging the roofs and converting houses into classrooms. These ramshackle buildings have all been replaced with the present modern group, the completion of the main building in 1924 being epoch-making in the history of the institution.
In 1914 at a meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association, the mothers voted unanimously in favor of a uniform for girls, selecting dresses of navy blue made simply in any style. When dresses fade they are dyed in the dry cleaning department. The adoption of a uniform is said to have -meant the saving of thousands of dol-
lars to the parents A uniform_ white is optional with the graduates.
Later a uniform of khaki was also adopted for the boys.
kl The Industrial High School is outstanding for its night schools. In the fall of 1911 the first night school for Negro adults in Birmingham was launched, with A. H. Parker in charge. There were nearly 60 students in this first school, while the present enrollment is 700. The pupils, ranging in age from 16 to 70, receive elementary instruction in eight grades and are also taught the needed industries. On completing the prescribed course, certificates are awarded. These certificates are greatly sought after both as a matter of pride and because they aid in securing good positions. An entrance fee of $1 is charged. Provided a student attends 90 per cent of all meetings, the fee is returned at the end of the session At the closing session last spring the entrance fee was returned to 300 students. Some of these students come from a distance of eight to ten miles to attend the night school, frequently walking both' ways.
Birmingham, Ala.
A DREAM That Came True" is the title of an autobiography of Arthur Harold Parker, principal of the Negro Industrial High School here, which is being published in the monthly journal of the school, and later will appear in book form. This school and A. H. Parker, its first teacher and one of the foremost educators of his race, are so closely identified that the story of his life traces the history of the school. From the meagerest beginning, the Industrial High School has developed into an institution which was pronounced by" Dr. A. E. Winship the best school of its kind in the country and unparalleled for rapid growth.
The school buildings are an imposing group. Constructed of hollow tile. covered with ivory stucco, the five buildings are of a modern type of school architecture and cover an area of 160,000 square feet on Eighth Avenue and Ninth Street. Like most features connected with the school, its excellent equipment and upkeep is the result of work. The students repair the_ buildings, do the screening, make hall trees, flower stands, tables.
chairs, swings, radio cases, other needed furniture, and playground equipment.
Like Booker T. Washington,. A. H. Parker believes that industry and efficient workmanship constitute the foundation of success and good citizenship. The plans and methods of the school are designed to give the students the best possible preparation, for a definite life's work. While the aim of the school is industrial and economic, the emphasis is placed not j Only on the means of making a living but likewise upon the practical elements
of true living. As a ,means
i.. and the school each year 1-
adopts a slogan. This year's slogan is "Character Education Through the Study of Nature." As one high school pupil put it, "The purpose of our slogan is to teach each child how to care for every living plant and enjoy them." Other slogans which have been used are "Character Education Through Love of the Beautiful"; "Character Education Through Thrift"; and "Character Education Through Courtesy."
In addition to the regular academic work the boys have cleaning and pressing, . gardening, carpentry, shoe repairing, tailoring, auto mechanics. upholstery, and printing. The girls have sewing, laundering, gardening. cooking, printing millinery, dress making, nursing, and beauty culture School and home gardening is a re-quired industry for all students dur
ig the first two years. Two years in tailoring and two years in carpentry are required of all boys, and two years each in cooking and sewing are required of all girls The other industries may be elected with the consent of the principal. but each student must pursue two industries, required ! or elected.
No phase of the industrial nigh 1 School program has created more I favorable comment than the vocal music. In order to preserve the old folk songs of the Negro race, at least me spiritual is sung at chapel exerses each day. The; very essence of
rmony seems to flood not only the \ throats but the faces of the Negro boys and girls as they sing their spirituals
it was a little more than 30 years ago that a group of Negro citizens of Birmingnam appeared before the board of education and petitioned tor an industrial high school for the youth of their race They were favorably received and told to go and find
location, with the understanding however, that the project was purely an experiment. One room was secured
in the Cameron School building. and in September 189.. the door of the 1 industrial school was opened, with
Are You Sure of You
Spelling ?
THOMPSON'S POCKET SPELLER D ARY and ATLAS helps you to spell Words pronounced the same but meaning and spelling are printe FACE TYPE--over '700 such w• know them all? Rule for sp I words. Fits in pocket or bag.
eta leather, 100; Artificial
mail postpaid from publish
Cunningham P,
405 Broadway. C
SCHO